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[{"Amount":8.3800,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-09-06T21:24:18","DonorDisplayName":"Andreas","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"EUR","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"It is great to visit for free such a prestigious museum. It's a small sum of money but donated willingly, for culture and for young people"},{"Amount":5.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-08-19T23:36:01","DonorDisplayName":"Fangbin Liu","DonorLocalAmount":5.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"I like to donate because I love this great museum and the great masterpieces kept in it."},{"Amount":5.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-17T08:56:35","DonorDisplayName":"Katja Leyendecker","DonorLocalAmount":5.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":1.2500,"ImageUrl":"http://images.justgiving.com/image/87facb53-ce60-4e05-9c8d-fa830c9c523c.jpg?template=profilesummary","Message":"I had a most wonderful 3 hours in the gallery's 1600s section! Must return!"},{"Amount":10.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-08-02T04:18:28","DonorDisplayName":"Suzanne Burke","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"Excellent online information for my students!"},{"Amount":20.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-16T20:57:11","DonorDisplayName":"Irina ","DonorLocalAmount":20.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"One of my favourite museums. Hope to visit again."},{"Amount":10.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-06-21T09:56:01","DonorDisplayName":"Jane DALY","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":2.5000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"A national treasure that needs supporting"},{"Amount":20.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-10T19:31:19","DonorDisplayName":"Kate English","DonorLocalAmount":20.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":5.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"What an amazing institution! This is to say thank you for your daily guided tours and the free activities you run for children."},{"Amount":2.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-10-25T09:01:14","DonorDisplayName":"Richard Roberts","DonorLocalAmount":2.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.5000,"ImageUrl":"http://images.justgiving.com/image/24d4733d-a317-4e81-8d0c-014c91259172.jpg?template=profilesummary","Message":"I hope this small contribution will allow you to continue your excellent work"},{"Amount":10.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-15T16:27:55","DonorDisplayName":"Janet Scott","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":2.5000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"The wonderful National Gallery deserves all the support it can get."},{"Amount":5.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-22T10:18:24","DonorDisplayName":"","DonorLocalAmount":5.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"These beautiful artworks belong to us all. Thank you for being custodians of the national collection"}]

Flowers in a Vase with Shells and Insects

Balthasar van der Ast has painted an arrangement of common flowers - irises, tulips, roses, carnations, antirrhinum and a fritillary - in a small earthenware vase. Insects - a butterfly, spider, bush cricket and wasp - crawl over them or hover around them. On the shelf on which the vase stands are three shells; in the early 17th century exotic shells were highly prized by Dutch collectors. The composition is carefully balanced in form and colour.

Balthasar van der Ast was the brother-in-law of Ambrosious Bosschaert the Elder, whose still life'Flowers in a Glass Vase' is in the National Gallery's Collection. He trained in Bosschaert's studio in Middelburg, continuing his master's style of precise descriptions of flowers and fruit.